New items...

I've enjoyed my days off from work!! The fall weather has arrived and I enjoy the cooler temps alot! I spent a good bit of today doing some sewing. I've started making a new item, hooded towels. One of my friends has 2 toddlers and she mentioned the other day that they had just about outgrown the ones that you get for infants and she wanted to find some larger ones so they could wrap up after a bath and cover their wet heads. So I found a simple pattern on the net and made a few today. Here are what they look like...
They are hanging by the hood off my ironing board. I had a hard time finding a good way to photograph them without a model. I also made this one with some space themed towels..so cute for a little boy!

These were really simple and quick to make. I'm adding them to my list of "home-made" Christmas gifts for all the kids on my list. I can also applique and embroider them for some added personalization.

I also did a few fabric beads this week. Here are pics of one of the necklaces I made. The center bead is a fabric covered wooden bead. The 2 longer beads on the end are pure fabric beads. These were made by wrapping fabric scraps around a straw and coating with mod-podge and allowing to dry. I 'm playing around with other fabrics but I am pretty happy with this first attempt.

Fabric beads..take 1

Well, I spent a couple of hours this afternoon learning to make fabric beads. I have to say that my first attempts were not that great but after about 2 or 3 beads, I started getting the hang of it and they have turned out pretty cute. The oval beads which are simply fabric wrapped around a straw and coated with gloss mod-podge are turning out really cute. The wooden beads wrapped in fabric are actually a bit more difficult..takes a bit of trimming and work to get the fabric tucked into the holes and neatly overlapping near the ends but I've done about 3 of those and each one looks better and gets quicker. It is a good use of my very small scraps which is nice! I'll post some pictures tomorrow after they dry and I can string some on a cord for a necklace...

Where has September gone???

Well, the sewer problem is resolved and I'm catching up on laundry and cleaning as a result...it's amazing how fast clothes/sheets/towels accumulate for just 2 people.. It is also amazing how you take for granted being able to do laundry, shower and just use water in general. I'm glad it is fixed and with no permanent damage or major damage to our home.

I haven't sewed much but am getting my Christmas gift list ready...I'm going to try and make all of my gifts this year. I'm taking some days off next week and will start on my list then..

I've found 2 new things I am going to try..one is hooded towels for babies/toddlers. I found a really easy pattern that uses a towel and a hand towel to make a really cute and useful hooded towel..I can then applique and embroider to decorate it. I'm going to try on of those next week for my friend's 4 year old.

I've also always wondered what to do with my small (2 inch or so) scraps. I can't bear to throw them away and I'm not patient enough to make a quilt out of small scraps like that. Maybe one day I'll have the skill and patience to do very small, scrappy quilts but I don't know. Anyway, I came across a tutorial where you use the small fabrics and make fabric beads. I'm going to try that this week and see how it goes. I'm interested in 2 types...one is completely fabric, oval and tube shaped (you use a straw to form them) and the other uses round wooden beads which you cover with fabric. I have some really cute fabric so I'm hoping this turns out to be a good use for them..it would also help with my "homemade Christmas" goal if I could make a few fabric bead necklaces!

The weekend has flown by and I need to get ready for work tomorrow...hope everyone had a great weekend!

Not good news....

Well, the plumber came out first thing this morning and was unable to repair the clog. It was too far down the main line and his tools wouldn't reach..so he suggested we call roto-rooter. Roto-rooter came out, snaked down the line and found that our main pipe had broken away from the city connection and had fallen into the dirt and was basically completely backed up with dirt as a result...it will cost about $2500 to dig it up, clean it out, repair it and reconnect it to the city sewer. So, not the news I wanted but since you cannot live without water/sewer/etc..., we will have to fix it. They are coming back tomorrow to start the work and hope to have it completed by end of day. They said that $2500 was the worst case and I am hoping it is something much less.

I am glad we caught it before we turned on the washer or something major which could have flooded the house and caused much more damage along with much more disruption. I'm trying to look on the bright side...

What a weekend...

Well, I did not get as much sewing done this weekend as I wanted, for reasons good and not so good. The good reason was that my Mom and Dad came up for the weekend for a visit. I really had a good time with my Mom and am always very glad to see her. We did a little shopping (we love to hit TJ Maxx and Tuesday Morning) and a little eating! It was alot of fun and I am glad I am living close enough that we can see each other about once a month.

The not so good reason I didn't get any sewing done is because of a plumbing issue at our hose. Right after my Mom and Dad left today, I started doing laundry, dishes and general house cleaning...as I was in our bathroom, I noticed water was backing up into the shower so I quickly turned everything off. Well, after about $30 worth of unclogging chemicals, a bunch of plunging and a general mess in our downstairs bathrooms, a plumber will be here tomorrow morning. It appears we have a clog between our house and the main line. Luckily, all of the backed up water stayed in the tub/showers and that has drained but we cannot use the showers/toliets/sinks as it quickly backs up when we use any water. So, we are heading to a hotel tonight and am hoping the plumber can quickly resolve it tomorrow. He was going to come out today but a hotel is cheaper than paying holiday rates for a plumber so we are going to wait until tomorrow when the rate is about 1/3 the holiday rate. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he can do it quickly and with minimal additional mess. I will let you know how it goes!!

So glad for Friday!!!

So glad it is Friday and a 3 day weekend has begun!! I plan to do some sewing and also spend some time with my Mom when she visits later this weekend. I really enjoy spending time with her and love it when she visits for a few days.

Here are a few more crafts I've been working on. I'm going to a baby shower in a few weeks for a friend who is having her first child, a son. Her and her hubby are huge Arkansas Razorback fans so I made a few burp cloths for the "lil Hawg".

I also customized a plain terry bib using some of the fabric. These were fun to make.

I hope everyone has a very safe and enjoyable Labor day weekend!!